Some advice please??!!

S

Smithm

New member
SO i decided to get back into Leo's after about 10 years and boy things have changed!! I am trying my best to provide the best care for my Leo's as possible but every time you read a new article, it is telling you something different for the last one you just read!!

Here is what I have now...........I have 4 10 gallon tanks (10"wx20"L) and each one contains a female Leo. I also have a male but he is in his own 27gallon tank. The reason for separating all the females is for breeding purposes next breeding season. I want to make sure they are all fat and ready to go and I want to also note what eggs came from who. Each of these 10 gallon tanks contain a moist hide (92 degrees) and a dry hide on the cool side sitting at 82 degrees (room temp). Each tank also contains a small tree for another hide, calcium and water.

As for lighting, the 10 gallon talks are light by a simple 20" cool white florescent bulb filtered with 2 layers of paper towel to dim in down a bit. The light gets turned on in the morning and off at night

My questions are (and please bear with me as I want to make sure my Leo's are looked after correctly)............

1) Are these tanks (size wise) and the temperatures OK for the Leo's?
2) What time would be the best time to feed them??

I have read that you should only feed them what they can eat in 20 minutes..........mine do not eat right away. I find they spend a few hours hunting the crickets and then eating them as they find them. I tried to leave some meal worms in the dish for the night but all the Leo's did not touch them. They will only eat them if I offer them with the tongs.

I am just looking for some advice to ensure they are well looked after. I do keep a log book on each Leo and record weights and so on to ensure no one is losing weight and because I want to try to breed, I really need to make sure they are getting there calcium (W/D3) and the multivitamins everyday!!

Thanks again GU for all the help I have being able to find so far!!
 
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GeckoManiac91

GeckoManiac91

New member
Hello and Welcome to GU :)

Perhaps reading Elizabeth's Leopard Gecko Care Sheet I have linked below. Every bit of information you will possibly need is in there. Follow it and you'll be set to go ;)
http://www.geckosunlimited.com/comm...acularius-demo-video-4-jan-2013-update-2.html

10gallon tanks are not big enough to establish a proper temperature gradient :( A minimum of a 20gallon long encolsure is needed. You will also need a minimum of 3hides per gecko; Warm hide, moist hide and cool hide.

You need a heat mat controlled by a thermostat to prevent it from over heating, I'm assuming this is something you already knew :D

Temperatures should be taken with a good quality digital thermometer. One with a probe should be used for surface temperatures. The temperatures you want should be as follows...
Warm Side Surface Temp: 88-95
Warm Side Air Temp (4inches above substrate): 80-85
Cool Side Air Temp (4inches above substrate): 70-75

What substrate are you using?
How are you supplementing the feeders? What brands?

Pictures are very welcome :)
 
S

Smithm

New member
Thanks...........I will have a read of it and start buying some new tanks!! I have a UTH heater on all tanks regulated by a thermostat. As far as substrate, the females are on a tile (customer cut for the tank) and the male is on repicarpet.

As far as the feeders go, I am pretty much purchasing them from the pet store and dusting them with Calium (with D3) and a multivitamin before feeding them. I am just trying to set up a feeder tank to try and gut load them before feeding.

Can you suggest a good supplement?

ALSO, I can't believe this just happened!! While I was cleaning out one of the females tank, I lifted the moist hide to clean under it and when I placed it down, the leo was under it. Once I realized what happened (right away), she lost half her tail!! I removed the tail but now (still shaking about it) what should I be doing for her to ensure no infections or anything?? I placed her back in her warm hide and turned out the lights for her to relax.

Will it grow back?? How long would it take??

MAN I feel awful about it!!
 
GeckoManiac91

GeckoManiac91

New member
Smithm said:
Thanks...........I will have a read of it and start buying some new tanks!! I have a UTH heater on all tanks regulated by a thermostat. As far as substrate, the females are on a tile (customer cut for the tank) and the male is on repicarpet.

As far as the feeders go, I am pretty much purchasing them from the pet store and dusting them with Calium (with D3) and a multivitamin before feeding them. I am just trying to set up a feeder tank to try and gut load them before feeding.

Can you suggest a good supplement?

ALSO, I can't believe this just happened!! While I was cleaning out one of the females tank, I lifted the moist hide to clean under it and when I placed it down, the leo was under it. Once I realized what happened (right away), she lost half her tail!! I removed the tail but now (still shaking about it) what should I be doing for her to ensure no infections or anything?? I placed her back in her warm hide and turned out the lights for her to relax.

Will it grow back?? How long would it take??

MAN I feel awful about it!!
Click to expand...

They will love there larger enclosures :)

Supplementing with Zoo-Med Reptivite with D3 once a week and then Zoo-Med Calcium with D3 once a week will be all you'll need :) Leaving a capful of plain calcium carbonate (no D3) can be beneficial. Especially to breeding females.

Keep the wound dry, do not try to put any ointment on it. Next time be more careful :( I will ask someone else to come give you more advice about the tail as my experience with those health type things are limited.
 
A

acpart

Well-known member
It sounds as if you're getting generally good advice. I don't feel that the air temps necessarily have to be that warm and I"m also not so convinced about whether or not you can get a proper heat gradient with a 10 gallon tank, but I"m sure they'll love a larger one. Another alternative to the supplementation advice is to get Repashy's calcium plus which is an all-in-one supplement and has worked very well for me since the winter of 2009 (54 leo hatchlings this season and counting). I"m not sure what you mean about removing the moist box. In general it makes sense to keep it in the cage as an option all the time. Also, if you have natural lighting in the room to give a day/night cycle, I don't see any need for additional lights, unless you want them for some reason.

Aliza
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Hi Smithm ~

A warm welcome to Geckos Unlimited where geckophiles flourish.

Excellent on having your UTHs regulated by a thermostat :yahoo:!

1)Just keep your leo's tail clean and dry. Soon a new tail tip will begin to form. It takes awhile and the new tail will be different from the original tail.
2) Suggest 3 hides at all times so your leo can choose.
3) Tile is best. How about switching your male to tile?
4) What do your temps read in your male's 27 gallon tank? Dimensions of that tank?
5) What type thermometer are you using?
6) Best to feed in the evening.

After feedback from several folks, one quite experienced in leo rescue, I now recommend a tank 4x the total mature length of a leo. So for an average mature leo of 9 total inches x 4 = 36 inch long tank.

Right now you seem not to be providing a cool end within those 10 gallon vivaria.

It is very difficult to establish a proper thermal gradient in a tank any shorter than 30 inches long. That would be a 20 gallon LONG tank (30 x 12 x 12 inches), the minimum length for growing leos.

Temperatures for all leos regardless of size:
88-93 F (31-34 C) ground temp at warm end inside the warm dry hide
no greater than 85 F (29.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the warm end
no greater than 75 F (24.5 C) air temp - 4 inches above ground on the cool end

Leave the UTH on 24/7. Can turn off overhead heating at night.

There is some controversy on whether leopard geckos benefit from overhead lighting/heating in addition to an UTH. Several GU members have experimented and posted their results. These members have confirmed that their leos are more active when provided with warm zones and not just warm spots :).
 
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S

Smithm

New member
Thanks for the advice!! Here are the answer's to the questions you asked.

1)Just keep your leo's tail clean and dry. Soon a new tail tip will begin to form. It takes awhile and the new tail will be different from the original tail.

I will........It was a very unfortunate accident that I could have avoided if I had payed more attention!! It definitely has not stopped her appetite at all!! I am curious to know what the new tail is going to look like as she is a bright yellow color (her whole body).

2) Suggest 3 hides at all times so your leo can choose.

I will be changing out the tanks in the next couple of days with 20 gallons (30x12x12). This way there is lots of room for an extra hide or two.

3) Tile is best. How about switching your male to tile?

I am going to get some cut for his tank tomorrow

4) What do your temps read in your male's 27 gallon tank? Dimensions of that tank?

The moist hide is 89 degrees...........the cool side tonight is 78 degrees. I think it might actually be a 33 gallon because it measures 36x12x15. This is good because my male is a giant tangerine (91g).

5) What type thermometer are you using?

Just the Zoo Med digital LCD thermometers

6) Best to feed in the evening.

Yeah I usually try to feed around 9pm every night............they seem to be awake then.
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Thanks for the advice!! Here are the answer's to the questions you asked.

You are definitely welcome :)!

1)Just keep your leo's tail clean and dry. Soon a new tail tip will begin to form. It takes awhile and the new tail will be different from the original tail.

I will........It was a very unfortunate accident that I could have avoided if I had payed more attention!! It definitely has not stopped her appetite at all!! I am curious to know what the new tail is going to look like as she is a bright yellow color (her whole body).

We will have to wait and see (really don't know).

2) Suggest 3 hides at all times so your leo can choose.

I will be changing out the tanks in the next couple of days with 20 gallons (30x12x12). This way there is lots of room for an extra hide or two.

The 30 x 12 x 12 is a good size for a growing leo. A leo reaches about 8 inches by 1.5 yo. Then a tank 4x the total length of the leo is best.

3) Tile is best. How about switching your male to tile?

I am going to get some cut for his tank tomorrow

4) What do your temps read in your male's 27 gallon tank? Dimensions of that tank?

The moist hide is 89 degrees...........the cool side tonight is 78 degrees. I think it might actually be a 33 gallon because it measures 36x12x15. This is good because my male is a giant tangerine (91g).

Good that your male has a 36 inch tank. How long is he? How old?

5) What type thermometer are you using?

Just the Zoo Med digital LCD thermometers

6) Best to feed in the evening.

Yeah I usually try to feed around 9pm every night............they seem to be awake then.

:biggrin:
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
PS:

Here is what I have now...........I have 4 10 gallon tanks (10"wx20"L) and each one contains a female Leo. I also have a male but he is in his own 27gallon tank. The reason for separating all the females is for breeding purposes next breeding season.
Click to expand...

What are the total lengths of each of your female leos right now? How old? Maybe you wish to go with enclosures 4x the total length of each leo when mature?
 
S

Smithm

New member
They are about 2 years old and between 6 to 7 inches long.

The 20 gallon long measures in at 30*12*12 so I would be ok there.........maybe I will look into a 33 gallon instead 36*12*15.

I am going to need 4 new tanks and lids either way so I will need to find out what local pet store has what. I currently have UTH's for a 10 to 20 gallon aquarium............will they need to be swapped out for bigger ones as well or would they still work with the tank still being only 12 inches wide??
 
GeckoManiac91

GeckoManiac91

New member
Smithm said:
They are about 2 years old and between 6 to 7 inches long.

The 20 gallon long measures in at 30*12*12 so I would be ok there.........maybe I will look into a 33 gallon instead 36*12*15.

I am going to need 4 new tanks and lids either way so I will need to find out what local pet store has what. I currently have UTH's for a 10 to 20 gallon aquarium............will they need to be swapped out for bigger ones as well or would they still work with the tank still being only 12 inches wide??
Click to expand...

Most UTH's are not reusable, what brand do you have?

Your heat mat should cover 1/3 of the tank. The 11x11 UTH's work really nicely with 20gallon long tanks :)
 
Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
Smithm said:
They are about 2 years old and between 6 to 7 inches long.

The 20 gallon long measures in at 30*12*12 so I would be ok there.........maybe I will look into a 33 gallon instead 36*12*15.

I am going to need 4 new tanks and lids either way so I will need to find out what local pet store has what. I currently have UTH's for a 10 to 20 gallon aquarium............will they need to be swapped out for bigger ones as well or would they still work with the tank still being only 12 inches wide??
Click to expand...

Are your female leos of giant descent? Even if they are NOT, I would definitely get the 36 x 12 x 15 inch tanks. May save you from future upgrades :razz:.

GeckoManiac91 said:
Most UTH's are not reusable, what brand do you have?

Your heat mat should cover 1/3 of the tank. The 11x11 UTH's work really nicely with 20gallon long tanks :)
Click to expand...

The Ultratherm heat mats sold by the Beanfarm (Carnation, WA) are supposed to be reusable. Another way to heat larger enclosures is with Flexwatt heat tape. See post #44 following my Leo Caresheet linked below in my signature for details.
 
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Elizabeth Freer

Elizabeth Freer

Well-known member
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S

Smithm

New member
The 11x11 UTH's work really nicely with 20gallon long tanks

Who makes the 11x11 UTH?? I can find different sizes but not 11x11??
 
S

Smithm

New member
UPDATE::

So I now have 4 20 gallon long tanks along with tops and under the tank heaters. 2 UTH's are Exo Terra 10x11 and 2 are Zoo Med 8x12..........could not find 4 Exo's so I had to get 2 and 2 and my thermostats!!

All I need now is some new tiles cut tomorrow morning and I can move the gecko's to their newer and bigger homes!!

Once I get them in and settled.........I will snap some pictures..........I am unsure what type I have but I was told that 2 females where jungle morphs, one (that had the tail incident) is a high yellow and the last female is a snow.

Thanks
 
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